Bisons Fall Short at Pawtucket

(bisons.com) - After enjoying a chance of a lifetime Saturday afternoon - the opportunity to play a ballgame at Fenway Park - the Bisons returned to reality on Sunday. The site was McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, where the Herd closed a quick two-game weekend set with the PawSox.

The result would not be the same. After Buffalo got the victory in Fenway, the PawSox quickly bounced back Sunday with an efficient 4-1 win over the Herd, enabling a series split. Pawtucket jumped ahead early with a two-run third inning, and the outburst would ultimately provide just enough scoring on the afternoon.

For this, the PawSox pitching staff can take credit. The Pawtucket hurlers kept the Bisons bats at bay throughout the afternoon, with starter Billy Buckner and a pair of relievers combining in a five-hit, one-run performance. Buckner allowed only three hits in six innings of work, exiting the game with Pawtucket maintaining a 3-1 advantage.

Aside from a Zach Lutz homer to left field in the fourth, Buckner kept the Bisons from notching any extra-base hits in his time on the mound.

After Will Inman relieved Buckner to pitch a scoreless seventh, former Bison Pedro Beato entered the game for the eighth - with the task of closing the game and notching a victory against his ex-teammates. Beato was up to the task, pitching a 1-2-3 eighth and a scoreless ninth to finish the job.

Buffalo didn't make the ninth easy on Beato, though. With the Bisons trailing 4-1 in the ninth, Matt Den Dekker led off the inning with a single off Beato to give the Herd some life. After striking out Lucas May, Beato proceeded to walk Fred Lewis, putting the tying run at the plate with one out.

But the Bisons would get no closer. Beato retired the final two Herd batters to preserve the PawSox victory.